October 02, 2013

Several years ago, I wrote for a collaborative blog with some ministers in which I posted daily devotionals and scheduled opinion pieces. That blog is now defunct. However, I did a google search of my name and the following post popped up (you know how it is, google saves everything). As I read it, my words hit me in the gut.

Then, in the heart.

Ouch!

Bear in mind, this was written before Facebook and Twitter hit the cyber waves of space. So... I thought, maybe you'd benefit from my refresher course on the subject of Damage Control and Grieving the Holy Spirit:

Each time we writers compose a blog-post, we chance it being received,
rejected, or simply ignored. Some folks think the success of a post is
determined by how many hits the page receives. Others think success is
determined by the amount of comments garnered by their carefully worded
thoughts. Many bloggers rack their brains for a topic that will
accomplish both. Some do not even care how controversial or inflaming
their subject matter becomes. They just want folks to read them.
Today, I’m not at all concerned about putting together a post to do any
of the above. However, I do have a few things that have popped into my
mind and wonder if you’d have any thoughts to offer in response.

When do Christians grieve the Holy Spirit?

Ephesians 4:30 says: “And do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were
sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of
redemption.” Eph. 4:30.

Preceding that verse there is a list of things that are quite offensive
to the Holy Spirit: "foul or polluting language, evil words, unwholesome
or worthless talk". In fact, it states that our conversation be “only
such speech as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of
others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a
blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.” Eph.4:29

Following verse 30 are a group of things which give us a clear
idea of what grieves the Holy Spirit of God. “Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath
(passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and
quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander be banished from
you, with all malice, (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).” Eph.
4:31.

Do you think recent posts (of for that matter statuses on Facebook or Twitter) you have read were a blessing to
others? Have your comments been “beneficial to the spiritual progress
of others”? (Lord forgive me...no not always.)

“And become useful and helpful and kind to one another,
tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving
of another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.” Eph. 4:32

How can Believers who are sealed by the Spirit until the day
of redemption continue to participate in blogs, facebook conversations and twitter rants avoid grieving the
Holy Spirit as they converse? Any ideas? Personally, I think I've failed miserably of late. selahV

October 22, 2011

I know some folks think the human race is totally and completely depraved, but I don't. I believe if I were totally and completely depraved, then I would never entertain a single thought of praise, or acknowledge the Hallowed Holiness of the Most High God. A depraved soul does not hear the convicting voice of the Shepherd. A depraved soul is a soul without kindness, without goodness, without mercy, love, or peace. I have those things. I exhibit those things...and to be clear, it's not because I am some goody-two-shoes who walks around toting my bag of benevolence and purity, either. It's not because I wear a cross, or get dressed up on Sunday morning and go to church while others mow lawns, pack golf-bags in their trunks, or snooze till they feel like getting up and beat me to Cracker Barrel to have their breakfast while I order lunch.

I have virtuous characteristics and exhibit them because Jesus saved me from myself and gave me new life in Him. In Him I am not depraved; I am holy. In Him I am pure and complete. In Him I am righteous. Yet I do get a bit weary looking in my mirror and seeing a chubby face staring back at me. She's a feeble-minded ding-dong at times. She disappoints me to no end. But, still, there's hope. She's sanctified, set aside, blood-bought and worthy to stand in the sight of God, and bow before the King of Kings. Her life is secure...her destiny certain. And for that I am so very grateful.

However...I get tired of seeing her fleshly carnality rear its ugly head.

Yesterday a salesman (actually he looked about 18), came to my door. He smiled great big and handed me a pretty hot-pink laminated card that described what he was, uh, not selling. Kirby vacuums. He said he wasn't selling them; he just wanted to demonstrate it on one of my carpeted rooms. I explained I had no carpets to clean and I was moving anyway, and would only have concrete floors. He continued. I interrupted. He broke in and continued his rehearsed spiel. After telling him I wasn't interested for the umpteenth time, I asked him if he understood what the word no meant. He got this really defeated look on his face that pierced my heart, but pressed on with a "but..I...".

I broke in, "I don't think you do, but you'd do well to find out before you go to another house. At least then you wouldn't waste your time or theirs."

It was one of those "gotcha" moments when I didn't need a mirror to see the ugly image coated in soot. I saw her in his undeserved chastened woeful expression. Whatever that young fella felt from my rebuke was immediately reflected back into the eye of my soul. Hardly in keeping with "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

I closed the door and returned to writing checks and paying bills. The moment my husband came in the door that evening I blurted, "I made a jerk of myself today." I related the story and confessed the unkindness, the rudeness, and spiteful attitude I exhibited. I'd already told my heavenly Father I was sorry.

That poor young man was only doing what a lot of people wouldn't do today. Instead of protesting and occupying Wall Street, he was doing the best he could. He was going door-to-door, trying to sell a reputable product in a astronomically depressed economy. It occurred to me that he would probably have received some kind of stipend for demonstrating the vacuum, even if I never purchased it. I'd have a clean carpet, and he'd make a little money. So what would I be out? An hour of my time. And to be honest, that time is not mine. It belongs to God.

After the young man left, I let my mind play out the what ifs:

What if I was his last straw?

What if I was the person who could make his day?

What if my "yes" was the blessing God wanted to give him in a discouraging day?

What if I were the answer to a prayer he'd uttered?

What if...what if he were an angel?

What if he wasn't, and during the demonstration, I had shared Jesus with him?

I know God knows what I did. He knew before that young man came to my door what I'd do. And at this moment, I share my ugly truth with you in hopes to help you avoid a similar event. Just think if you don't do what I did, and you are the one who shows the fruit of the Spirit God so liberally gives you. Just think what He could do with that. Like I said earlier, I am glad God loves me. He still has a plan for my life. He's not finished with me yet. It's not easy to admit the ugly part of myself. But I am more than my flesh and blood. I am a child of God. He is my Heavenly Father and He loves me so very much. I won't dwell any longer on my haughty-taughty attitude and the smut that skewed the Life of Christ within me. I will commit my way unto the Lord and do my best to heed the Spirit within me, this day. Hopefully, my confession helps you in some way...to help another in some way...today. selahV

July 07, 2011

It is one of those slices of the proverbial "fruit" that gives evidence of faith and the Holy Spirit in our lives. It seems to be a never-ending battle to attain it. It takes restraint. It's an exercise of will over desire...of thought over impulse. Self-control is one of those words we either love or hate. We envy it in others and long for it ourselves.

The Lord gives the Holy Spirit to His adopted ones--we are exhorted "to be filled with the Spirit". The fruit of the Spirit is evidence of a healthy relationship with our LORD.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

Paul tells us to practice love. It takes a concerted effort on our part to surrender our weakness, to remove things in our lives which cause us to fail to exhibit love--bitterness, anger, hatred, evil thoughts, grudges, unforgiveness. As we relinquish those things, put aside those things, then love is visible--as is the Spirit of God in our lives.

Self-control is no more automatic than love.

The more disciplined we are in our lives, the more challenges we may face to disrupt that discipline. The less love we have, the more chances we are given to exhibit love. The more love we have, the more joy we receive, the more joy we receive, the greater peace we know. The more we develop these attributes in our lives, the more forbearance we show, the more kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control we have. To be filled, we need to be emptied. Paul writes:

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Colossians 3:5-8

I posted a list of verses and passages about self-control at Devotional Christian(/link). As I researched verses I found one thing true in all of them; self-control is a virtue. It is a discipline of one's entire person. It is preventive medicine for many of man's emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual woes. It is a process of yielding to God all that we are.

It is a choice...to exhibit that which we have, to build upon it, to exercise it. Or we can ignore it's call on our lives and live in total abandon to our own desires--regardless of what others think or say. Regardless of consequences.

Self-control is not forced upon us, but instead a relinquishing of our will to God's in obedience to His Word and the principles taught through His Word. Self-control listens to the Holy Spirit's directions and convictions.

It is most interesting in our quest to control ourselves, that the Lord adds an element of choice. We have the choice to control our tongue, our words, our actions, indeed our feelings and thoughts. It's up to us to live out a life of control, abstinence, temperance, and sober-mindedness. When we choose disobedience, we lack self-control and our indulgence comes with consequences.

Of course our greatest example of self-control is our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Indeed, how better to visualize this attribute, this concerted effort, this predetermined disposition, than to look at Jesus?

Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, hammered by the Jewish leaders on the legitimacy of His authority to preach, to heal, to forgive and minister to the multitudes of people. There are no temptations given to man in which Jesus was not tempted to indulge. Yet, Jesus exhibited complete self-control. And we, as Christians, have the mind of Christ. We just need to use His mind instead of ours more often than not. (But that's another post.) selahV

March 28, 2011

There's a bit more I've experienced through much sorrow, pain, struggle, surrender and acceptance.

In the final analysis, I find the most overlooked area of power in the Christian's life (including mine), is intercessory prayer.

A powerless faith is a faith which fails to lift up prayer for ourselves and others believing God is the One and only One Who can answer our prayers according to His perfect will.

Some things I've learned:

We can't help God out.

We can't change the answer.

We can't use emotion to sway God's will.

We can't always understand.

We can't always be happy.

We can trust the Father to answer without our intervention.

We can be persistent when He doesn't answer on our timetable.

We can rest without worry and have peace in the process of God's perfect timing.

We can believe God's promises and learn from our inability to understand as part of the growth process in the sanctification of our faith and growth as Believers.

We can have joy even when we are not happy with the situations we live with as we wait upon the LORD.

We can find completeness in the brokenness of our lives left in the hands of God.

There is a hunger within our hearts, souls, and minds when we pray believing and wanting God's complete will in a situation. The Holy Spirit clears out all the baggage (sorta like html stuff that only techies can fix in a website to make it work correctly and show up on a page) Then the Holy Spirit puts it perfectly at the feet of our Father in Heaven. Then He directs the course of events to bring about the answers to our prayers according to His perfect will.

For Daniel, God sent Gabriel who battled Satan in the realms between heaven and earth before finally answering His prayer for help. For Jesus He gave all He needed to "drink the cup", He would rather have been left untouched.

Our problem, as humans, is we tend to think we know better how that perfect will ought to look when it comes about. Sometimes it is not pretty...but as we learn to trust the Lord God Most High, He perfects in us the ability to accept His will as His will and relinquish our claim upon what the answer should look like.

I've had a ton of experience in this since my son was killed on Mother's Day 2005. And I mean to tell you the Lord and I have gone to the mat several times. Each time I find myself enjoying it when I'm pinned down and looking up into His glorious, merciful, loving, compassionate face through the magnification of tears in my eyes. He is good. He is very good. He is Sovereign and His answers are perfect. Praise His Holy Name. Whew. I feel like shoutin' !!!! selahV >>>>>>>

Please, don't rush off. Stand up and shout a bit with me. LOL. Take a moment and post a comment and say hello. That way I can be praying for you, too. God bless and keep you until we meet again. selahV